For those of you in California...

[dparksfan]

I'm so sorry for the passing of Prop 8. As a straight person, I tried really hard to get the word out.

This makes me very sad...

 

[kingLouiethe1]

I had to wake up to see how things were going, not good

I'm going back to sleep, wake me up when we're equal.

 

[Nalla]

At the rate we're going you'll be sleeping for a long time

 

[bubie2.5]

I'm so frustrated, I haven't been able to sleep all night, and now I can't stop crying. I'm happy "my guy won" but I'm sad my family lost, not only in California, but in Fl as well.

 

[rpmdfw]

I'm so frustrated, I haven't been able to sleep all night, and now I can't stop crying. I'm happy "my guy won" but I'm sad my family lost, not only in California, but in Fl as well.

And Arizona and Arkansas.

 

[bubie2.5]

And Arizona and Arkansas.

Don't remind me... I'm trying to block it out.

 

[zulemara]

I’m posting this in pretty much all the election threads because I see the same feelings being brought out in everyone and I think I have some insight that can help you all understand and hopefully make you feel better about the way a couple states voted last night.

In 2006 WI passed the same amendment that FL did. As I understand it, CA’s amendment defines marriage, but does not take away benefits equal or similar to that of marriage like FL and WI’s do.
After 2006, I was so angry at my state. How could so many people vote against my rights? How can they be so blind? How can I stand to live in this state anymore? I am from a city of 55,000 with many surrounding “hick” towns where people really do cling to their guns and religion. I have done everything I can to surround myself in a positive environment despite our current laws here. For instance, I went to the fair in my grandma’s hometown of Viroqua, WI. When I came out of the fair, there was a “protect marriage” flier on my car. I said I’ll never give another dime to that town and I haven’t. Will it make a difference? No, but it makes me feel better.

What we all need is to strike a balance between what makes us feel better, and what we can do to make a difference. I think we can take a page from the pro-life people.

When you’re looking for a place to eat, shop, or visit for entertainment, find out the policies of these companies. Do they support their LGBT employees? Look for the ads in the major gay magazines and support those businesses. Will that make a difference? Probably only a little bit if at all, but I know it really makes me feel much better.

Now how can we make a difference? Stay where you are! Live your life and make sure when you come in contact with people that you aren’t afraid to say “well this sub is for my partner, I guess I’ll find out how well I know him” little things like that can expose many people to the fact that we are here, we are no different, and we aren’t going anywhere! It is so easy to be angry towards the people around you. He’s old, I bet he voted against me, she is black I bet she voted against me, he is walking into a Catholic church, he hates me too. Those are all easy things to do, but it doesn’t accomplish anything. Keep an open mind towards new people you meet. You might find someone is Catholic, but not necessarily opposed to your rights. I have been surprised more than once on the issue. Write a letter to the editor, but don’t be angry, seek only to educate. Although you might not change someone’s mind through your letter, it might bring up a discussion between two people with opposing views.

We have elected Obama because he wants to change Washington. As someone mentioned, he said “gay or straight” in his speech last night. No other politician who says he’s for gay rights has ever done that from what I’ve seen, and to me that says HE GETS IT. He will be working with a Democratic majority. These next 2 years(before the religious right gets motivated) are our years to make a difference at a national level! Remind our elected officials why we voted(or didn’t vote) for them. Lets get national hate crime legislation passed, repeal DODT, and repeal the DOMA. What is the one thing Obama has shown us in this election? Hope is powerful, and it’s what we ALL need to have no matter your state. Live your life, show you’re normal, and when you’re upset that you aren’t accepted, go to Disneyworld/land

 

[ChrizJen]

It's such a bittersweet day.
I'm so sad that (once again) we weren't able to defeat the hate machine.
The only consolation we have this morning is that we have a friend in the White House come January, and we have a Democratic majority in both the Senate and the House.
Small victories for sure compared to the losses we've suffered in this election, but victories none the less.

And I will say that I wouldn't want things to be flip-flopped either. If we had won our battles but elected McCain, things would be even worse. So I'll celebrate what we did win, and move on and continue to fight the hate.

ETA:

I’m posting this in pretty much all the election threads because I see the same feelings being brought out in everyone and I think I have some insight that can help you all understand and hopefully make you feel better about the way a couple states voted last night.

In 2006 WI passed the same amendment that FL did. As I understand it, CA’s amendment defines marriage, but does not take away benefits equal or similar to that of marriage like FL and WI’s do.
After 2006, I was so angry at my state. How could so many people vote against my rights? How can they be so blind? How can I stand to live in this state anymore? I am from a city of 55,000 with many surrounding “hick” towns where people really do cling to their guns and religion. I have done everything I can to surround myself in a positive environment despite our current laws here. For instance, I went to the fair in my grandma’s hometown of Viroqua, WI. When I came out of the fair, there was a “protect marriage” flier on my car. I said I’ll never give another dime to that town and I haven’t. Will it make a difference? No, but it makes me feel better.

What we all need is to strike a balance between what makes us feel better, and what we can do to make a difference. I think we can take a page from the pro-life people.

When you’re looking for a place to eat, shop, or visit for entertainment, find out the policies of these companies. Do they support their LGBT employees? Look for the ads in the major gay magazines and support those businesses. Will that make a difference? Probably only a little bit if at all, but I know it really makes me feel much better.

Now how can we make a difference? Stay where you are! Live your life and make sure when you come in contact with people that you aren’t afraid to say “well this sub is for my partner, I guess I’ll find out how well I know him” little things like that can expose many people to the fact that we are here, we are no different, and we aren’t going anywhere! It is so easy to be angry towards the people around you. He’s old, I bet he voted against me, she is black I bet she voted against me, he is walking into a Catholic church, he hates me too. Those are all easy things to do, but it doesn’t accomplish anything. Keep an open mind towards new people you meet. You might find someone is Catholic, but not necessarily opposed to your rights. I have been surprised more than once on the issue. Write a letter to the editor, but don’t be angry, seek only to educate. Although you might not change someone’s mind through your letter, it might bring up a discussion between two people with opposing views.

We have elected Obama because he wants to change Washington. As someone mentioned, he said “gay or straight” in his speech last night. No other politician who says he’s for gay rights has ever done that from what I’ve seen, and to me that says HE GETS IT. He will be working with a Democratic majority. These next 2 years(before the religious right gets motivated) are our years to make a difference at a national level! Remind our elected officials why we voted(or didn’t vote) for them. Lets get national hate crime legislation passed, repeal DODT, and repeal the DOMA. What is the one thing Obama has shown us in this election? Hope is powerful, and it’s what we ALL need to have no matter your state. Live your life, show you’re normal, and when you’re upset that you aren’t accepted, go to Disneyworld/land

Great post! I agree 100%! We also live in a state in which the constitution has been amended to deny rights. And we're not going anywhere anytime soon. We're just careful about the businesses we patronize, and welive our lives the best way we can.

I would also like to add that if we want change, we have to make change. I felt the same way you did when my state passed its constitutional amendment. I felt betrayed and disenfranchised by the people of my own state. But then I thought about it. What exactly did I do to educate people? What did I do to make my fellow Missourians aware that we're just people, the same as them. I vowed from that day forward to do my best to make people aware of the issues we face. To try to make them understand that we're not trying to take anything away from them. We just want the same things that they take for granted.

 

[kingLouiethe1]

Ok, I'm going to wipe the tears away, get up, put on my spiffy new sweater, put on the brave face, stand up straight and go out and face the world.

There's a bright side here. The election is over, and I can move on, and I know the setback will be temporary. The (likely) loss was narrow, all we have to do is keep waiting for more old people to die

 

[jharrowell]

Those **^&%$%$%&*&*& biggoted pillocks!

I'm so sorry about this result guys! I know we don't have "gay marriage" here in the UK but at least we do have "Civil Partnerships" which is a marriage in all but name.

I don't know all of the in's and out's where this is concerned, does the bill mean that any sort of legal Gay partnership is banned or is it specifically "Marriage"?

I ask because I was wondering if it leaves a loophole to have a similar thing as we have in the UK as long as it's not officially called marriage...

 

[rpmdfw]

There's a bright side here. The election is over, and I can move on, and I know the setback will be temporary. The (likely) loss was narrow, all we have to do is keep waiting for more old people to die

And keep living our lives openly and honestly as we can. That way we show people that we're just like they are (only a bit more fabulous).

 

[ConcKahuna]

Those **^&%$%$%&*&*& biggoted pillocks!

I'm so sorry abut this result guys! I know we don't have "gay marriage" here in the UK but at least we do have "Civil Partnerships" which is a marriage in all but name.

I don't know all of the in's and out's where this is concerned, does the bill mean that any sort of legal Gay partnership is banned or is it specifically "Marriage"?

I ask because I was wondering if it leaves a loophole to have a similar thing as we have in the UK as long as it's not officially called marriage...

Unfortunatly it bans all gay partnerships. The Florida amendment also goes as far as to block any kind of civil partnerships between unmarried heterosexual couples.

 

[jharrowell]

I just don't understand how it is even allowable that depending on what state your in your partnership is either legal or illegal (that's assuming and state allows Gay marriage anymore).

I may be an uninitiated brit and I know that this isn't normally something looked at at the federal level but I do think that President Obama (wow, it feels cool saying that) should step in and look at a law that is Country wide...

I tell you one thing, if this stands then I am seriously going to have to look at my plans to eventually move to Florida.

Edit: Where does this leave people who already tied the knot such as Ellen Degeneres or George Takei?

Double Edit:

I remember a certain bit of paper saying:-

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness...

Maybe someone should check it with a magnifying glass to see if the word "straight" is written between the "all" and the "men" in really little letters...

 

[soulmates]

Bittersweet, that is exactly what it was....on one hand we moved forward 10 paces, but on the other, we moved back 4. I know, in reality, we are SO much closer than we've ever been, but can you imagine ALL families allowed the SAME rights, in EVERY state?? We have to believe, move forward and stand up every chance we get and be counted!

 

[SkyMedik]

I had to wake up to see how things were going, not good

I'm going back to sleep, wake me up when we're equal.

lmao..... my sentiments exactly....

And thank you dparksfan for your kind words......

 

[wallyb]

Ok, I'm going to wipe the tears away, get up, put on my spiffy new sweater, put on the brave face, stand up straight and go out and face the world.

There's a bright side here. The election is over, and I can move on, and I know the setback will be temporary. The (likely) loss was narrow, all we have to do is keep waiting for more old people to die

3 words:
Tainted Prune Juice.
I'm just saying.

 

[jharrowell]

3 words:
Tainted Prune Juice.
I'm just saying.

 

[SkyMedik]

I am tired of being graceful and picking myself off the ground after each setback year after year.

conservatives....

OK maybe if I listen to Babs, Cher and Madonna simultaneously I'll be better...

 

[wallyb]

3 words:
Tainted Prune Juice.
I'm just saying.

And the bottles can read:
When you gotta go - you gotta go!
No! Really - Just go!

 

[dis75ney]

3 words:
Tainted Prune Juice.
I'm just saying.

I knew there had to be another reason besides people being morons...

To all my friends in CA, FL, AR, AZ, and anywhere else I may have missed, I am SO sorry for this turn of events. But the journey hasn't ended. There's still a light at the end of this long tunnel. Minorities have always had to fight for equal rights in this country, and so far, it's worked in our favor (yes, there is still work to do, but we've come a LONG way since the days of African-Americans and women being looked on as possessions). We've got a friend coming into the White House in January - someone who is a part of said minority population and can hopefully smack some sense into people who are scared that Jon and Bob Doe's marriage will somehow affect their lives in a negative way.

I pray that someday we can all look back on this as just a blip in the road to equality...